Ditching-machine



(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. L. HARVEY. DITGHING MACHINE.

wn/n f6 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

WI TNESSES (a IN VENTOH Imus. a, a.

ATTORNEYS.

8 Sheets-$heet 2.

Patented Feb. 27, 1894,

(No Model.)

W. L. HARVEY. DITGHING MAUHINE.

" (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. W. L. HARVEY. DITGHING MAOHINE.110,515,678. Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

m vnvron ATTORNEYS.

WI TN 5 58 E 8 i I V I 6.5

THE NAHONAL LFI'HOGRAPHNG CQHPANY WASHINGTON. D- C.

outwardly-flaring sides B and B as plainly TV ILLIAM LESTER HARVEY,

DITCHING- PATENT rinse.

OF STANBERRY, MISSOURI.

MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,678, dated February2?, 1894. Application filed May 22, 1393- Serial No. 475,020. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Lnsrnn HAR- VEY, of Stanberry, in the countyof Gentry and State of Missouri, have invented a new and ImprovedDitching-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ditchingmachine, which is simple and durable in construction, very effective inoperation, and more especially designed for use on railroads to formaditch on one or both sides of the road bed.

The invention consists principally of a scraper arranged on the side ofthe platform car and connected at its ends with draft beams held on thecar, transverse levers pivotally-connected with the scraper and withtransverse sliding blocks on the car, and a hoisting device connectedwith the said levers and located on the car, as hereinafter describedand claimed.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details, andcombinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and thenpointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the scraper; and Fig. 5 is alike view of the spreader. I

The improved ditching machine is mounted on a platform car A, of anyapproved construction, and on the sides of which are ar ranged thescrapers B alike in construction, each provided with a bottom B, and thetwo shown in the drawings.

The front ends of the sides B and B of each of the scrapers B areconnected by the chains G with a draft bar 0 connected by a chain (3with a draft beam D pivoted at D on top of the platform car A, and heldin place by a brace D also pivoted on the car, to permit of swinging thesaid draft beam inward when not in use. The rear ends of the sides B andB of each of the scrapers B are connected by the chains 0 with a draftbar 0 connected by a chain 0 with the rear draft beam D similar inconstruction to the beam D and pivoted on the platform car and held inplace by a pivoted brace D as plainly shown in the drawings.

The inner side 33 of each of the scrapers B is provided at its upperedge with a pivoted wing B so as to prevent the accumulating dirt fromfalling onto the railroad track. This side B of each scraper ispivotally-connected with a link E formed at its upper end with a row ofapertures one of which is adapted to be engaged by a pin E, held in anarm 13. pivoted on top of the platform car near the middle thereof, asplainly shown in the drawings. The link E serves to guide the scraperand also assists in regulating the depth the scraper is to go down intothe ditch.

The outer side B is provided at its upper edge with a pivoted wing 13adapted to give slope to the side of the ditch to be formed, the saidwing B being provided with curved guide arms B extending inwardly towardthe middie of the wingso as to guide incoming dirt down into the scraperB. lhis wing 13 is pivotall -connected by a link B with a shaft B?arranged longitudinally and held in pivoted .U shaped arms B -secured tothe sides of the scraper B near the ends thereof, as plainly shown inthe drawings.

The shaft B of each of the scrapers is con--.

nected with levers F pivoted on swivel blocks- F pivoted ontransversely-sliding blocks F fitted to slide on guideways F arrangedtrans versely on top of the platform car A. The front lever F of eachscraper B is provided with a clevis G on which is secured one end of arope G extending upwardly and inwardly to wind upon a drum H, mounted torotate loosely on a longitudinally extending shaft I, journaled insuitable hearings in the-upper ends of the standards A erected on theplatform car A.

The rear levers F of the scrapers B are provided with cleviscs G onwhich are secured the ends of a rope G also extending upwardly andinwardly to wind on a drum H mounted to rotate loosely on thelongitudinal shaft I, previously mentioned. This shaft I carries asprocket wheel I, over which passes a sprocket chain 1 also passing overa sprocket wheel I secured on a shaft 1 extending longitudinally, andmounted to turn in suitable bearings secured to the top of the platformcar A. The outer end of this shaft 1 carries a bevel gear wheel 1 inmesh with a bevel gear wheel I, secured on a transversely-extending maindriving shaft J, of a pair of engines J of any approved construction andderiving theirsupply of steam from a boiler J located between theengines on the rear end of the platform car A. If desired the boiler Jmay be dispensed with, and the engines supplied with steam from thelocomotive used for hauling the car over the railroad track.

On the drums H and H are formed clutch teeth H and H respectively,adapted to be engaged by the clutches K and K respectively, mounted toslide on and to turn with the shaft l, so that when the said clutchesare in mesh with the clutch teeth on said drums,

the latter are rotated on rotating the shaft 1 from the main drivingshaft J, of the pair of engines. The clutches K and K are adapted to beshifted longitudinally on the shaft 1, and for this purpose the saidclutches are engaged by clutch bands K and K respectively, connected bylinks K and K respectively, with hand levers K and K respectively,fulcrumed on the front and rear standards A and under the control of theoperator. By this arrangement each of the drums I-Iv and H can beindependently controlled by the operator shifting the correspondinglever K or K to cause the respective drum to rotate or not, as desired.

On the inner ends of the drums H and H are secured the ratchet wheels 11and H respectively, adapted to be engaged by sliding pawls L and Lrespectively, mounted to slide on the innermost standards A, as plainlyshown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower ends of the sliding pawls Land L areconnected with the crank arms N and N respectively, formed on the endsof longitudinally-extending shafts N and N respectively, of which theformer is provided at its outer end with a second crank arm N and theother shaft N is provided at its outer end with a hand lever N under thecontrol of the operator. The crank arm N of the shaft N is connected byalink N with a hand lever N fulcrumed on one of the standards A, andunder the control of the operator.

On the hub of the sprocket wheel I is secured or formed a brake wheel 0engaged by a brake band 0 secured at one end at O, to a stud projectingfrom one of the innermost standards A. The other end of the brake bandOis connected with a crank arm 0 held on the inner end of alongitudinallyextending shaft 0 journ aled in suitable bearings on thetop of the platform car A, the outer end of the said shaft beingprovided with a handle 0 under the control of the operator.

The operation is as follows: When the several parts are in the positionas shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and theplatform carAis pushed forward by alocomotive, then the scrapers B on the sides of the platform car A passinto the ground with their front ends, thus taking up the dirt whichfills onto the top of the scrapers. Usually the platform car A is pushedforward a distance corresponding to about the length of the scrapers, sothat the latter are filled with a considerable amount of dirt. When thishas been done, the operator sets the engines J in motion, and connectsthe hoisting drums .H and H with the shaft I, so that the rotary motionof the latter rotates the said drums to Wind up the ropes G and Gwhereby an upward swinging motion is given to the levers F, which thusraise the scrapers B off the ground; the car is'then drawn by thelocomotive to the place of dumping, and then one of the drums H or His-released from its respective clutch, and at the same time thecorresponding pawl L or L is withdrawn, to permit a free revolving ofthedrum to unwind the corresponding rope thereon. By this arrangement thelevers connecting with the unwinding rope swing downward, while theother levers remain in an uppermost position, so that the scrapers Bassume an inclined position, and thus automatically discharge the dirton the said. scrapers. When this has been accomplished, the lowered endof the scraper is again raised by connecting the corresponding clutchwith the drum, so that the rotary motion given to the shaft Lwinds upthe rope to bring the scraper back to its ing this second revolving ofthe shaft I the other drum is disconnected from its respective clutchand held in a locked position, by the corresponding sliding pawll' or L.The car is then returned to the ditch, the scrapers are lowered into theformer place, andthen the car pushed forward, and the, above describedoperation is repeated.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described, the scrapers B can beraised after being loaded and moved inwardly and rested on the top ofthe car on opposite sides of the main shaft, so as to permit of pushingthe car through narrow places, bridges and the like, without danger ofthe scrapers striking walls of bridges and similar structures. It isfurther understood that when the levers F commence to swing upward, thebars E guide the upward movement of the scrapers, and the blocks Fconnected with the levers do not commence to slide inward until afterthe bars E have passed a vertical position.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, a spreader P may be attached to the levers Ffor the purpose of spreading the dirt on the place of dumping, it beingunderstood that this spreader then takes the place of the scrapers. Eachof the spreaders is provided with an inclinedside wall P, and a bottom Pas shown in 5. The inner end of the inclined side Wall P is normalposition, it being understood thatd ur- IIO , provided with a clevis Pfor connection with the draft beam. The upper portion of the side wall Pis curved outward, as shown at P so as to form a kind of pocket andprevent the dirt from falling inward over the upper edge of the wall P.On thetop of the said inclined wall P is journaled a shaft P forconnection with the levers F in a manner similar to the connection ofthe scrapers with the said levers. When this spreader is passed over thefill, the inclined wall P pushes the accummulated dirtoutward, so as toeven the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letter Patent l. A ditching machinecomprising a scraperarranged on the side of a platform car and connected at its ends withdraft beams secured on the platform car, transverse levers pivotallyconnected with the scraper, blocks capable of a free transverse movementon hearings on the car, and connected with the said levers so as to forma fulcrum that will slide on the said bearings when the levers are swungup or down and a hoisting device connected with the said levers,substantially as shown and described.

2. A ditching machine provided with a scraper having a bottom and twooutwardlyflaring sides, and wings pivoted on the said sides andextending upwardly and outwardly, substantially as shown and described.

3. A ditching machine provided with a scraper, comprising a bottom,outwardly-flaring sides, a wing pivoted to the outermost side andextending upwardly and outwardly at an angle to the said side, and armssecured on the said wing for guiding the material into the said scraper,substantially as shown and described.

4. A ditching machine provided with a spreader, comprising a bottom, aninclined side wall secured on the said bottom, and curved outwardlyatits upper edge and means, substantially as described, for drawing thesaid spreader forward, as set forth.

5. A ditching machine, comprising a platform car, scrapers arranged onthe said car, draft beams held on the said car and connected with theends of the said scrapers, levers pivotally-connected with the saidscrapers,'lugs having a free transverse sliding movement and connectedwith the said levers so as to form a fulcrum that will slidetransversely when the levers are swung up or down transverse bearingsfixed on the said car and engaged by the said blocks, and a hoistingdevice, substantially as described and connected by its hoisting ropeswith the said levers, as set forth.

6. A ditching machine, comprising a platform car, scrapers arranged onthe said car, draft beams held on the said car and connected with theends of the said scrapers, levers pivotally-connected with the end ofsaid scrapers, lugs mounted to slide transversely and connected with thesaid levers, transverse bearings fixed on the said car and engaged bythe said blocks, a hoisting device, substantially as described, andconnected by independent hoisting ropes with each of the said levers, atopposite ends of the scrapers and means, substantially as described, forimparting a rotary motion to the said hoisting device, as set forth.

7. A ditching machine provided with a scraper and a shaft from which thesame is suspended, a wing pivoted to one of the sides of the scraper,and a connection between'the shaft and the wing to keep the latter inposi tion, as set forth.

8. The combination, with the scraper, the U-shaped arms connected withthe sides thereof, and the shaft or rod serving to suspend the scraperand passing through the said arms, of awing pivoted to one of the sidesof the scraper, and a link connected with the said wing and the saidshaft, as set forth.

9. A ditching machine, comprising a platform car, scrapers arranged onthe sides thereof, connections between the car and the ends of thescrapers to hold the latter in an operative position, levers pivotallyconnected with the scrapers, blocks having a double pivotal connectionwith the levers after the fashion of a universal joint, whereby thelevers with the scrapers are made capable of a swinging movement both ina horizontal and in a vertical plane, and a hoisting device connectedwith the said levers, as set forth.

10; A ditching machine, comprising a platform car, scrapers arrangedthereon, draft beams held on the carand connected with the ends of thescrapers, levers pivotally connected with the scrapers, swivel blockshaving a pivotal connection with the said levers to allow the latter tomove in a vertical plane, sliding blocks pivotally connected with thesaid swivel blocks to allow the latter to move inan essentiallyhorizontal plane, transverse bearings fixed on the car and engaged bythe said sliding blocks, and a hoisting device connected by its hoistingropes with the said levers, as set forth.

11. A ditching machine provided with a hoisting device for the sidescrapers, comprising a shaft mounted to revolve, drums mounted to rotateloosely on the said shaft, a rope wound on each of the said drums andextending with its ends to the lifting device of the said scrapers, aratchet wheel held on each of the said drums, posts located adjacent totheratchet wheels, pawls having a guided movement along the said poststo and from the ratchet wheels, and independent operating means for eachof the pawls, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a ditching machine, the combination, with a scraper arranged onthe side of a platform car, and means for holding the scraper in anoperative position, of a bar pivotally connected with the inner side ofthe scraper and having an adjustable fulcrum on the platform car, andlevers pivotally connected with the scrapers'to-raise and lower thelatter, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a ditching machine, the combination of a scraper arranged on theside of a platform car, draft beams connected withthe ends of the saidscraper and also secured on the platform car, a bar pivotally-connectedwiththe'inner side of the said scraper and f ulcrumed on the platformcar, and levers pivotally-connected with the said scraper to raise andlower the latter, substantially as shown and described. 1

14:. In a ditching machine, the combination of a scraper arranged 'onthe side of a platform ear, draft beams connected with the ends of thesaid scraper and also secured on the platform car, a barpivotally-connected with the inner side of the said scraperand'fulcrumed on the platform car, levers pivotallyconnected with thesaid scraper to raise and lower the latter, means, substantially asdescribed, for imparting a swinging motion to the said levers,andsliding blocks mounted to slide transversely on the platform car andpivotally-connected with the said levers, substantially as shown anddescribed.

WILLIAM LESTER HARVEY.

Witnesses:

J AS. T. DUNN, GEORGE WALKER.

